Clown doctors aim to increase the well-being of patients and
restore patients' healing powers using humour, and they could be
coming to a hospital near you.

A clown doctors' programme has been running at Christchurch
Hospital since last September. Clowns, who have been through a two-week
training programme, visit the children's wards, oncology, high
dependency unit and acute medical assessment ward weekly, and geriatric
patients at Princess Margaret Hospital fortnightly.

Christchurch Hospital child health psychologist Tony White is a
strong supporter of the scheme. "Resources that focus on the
emotional aspects of healing and caring for people are few and far
between, and are often considered a luxury. This resource adds to that,
and costs the hospital nothing, as the clowns are paid by a charitable
trust."

The clown doctors' imitative was introduced to New Zealand by
Christchurch-based German holistic health scientist and human behaviour
researcher Thomas Petschner. "Clown doctors have been particularly
successful in Europe, Australia and much of the United States," he
said. "Clown doctors are ideally professional clowns, performing
artists, or talented actors who have received comprehensive medical
clowning training. Before going into the hospital, they also receive
some basic medical training, giving them the skills and knowledge to
understand some of the complexities of illnesses and human behaviour,
which are the basis for any work in a hospital setting."

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Further training programmes will run in Auckland this month and in
Wellington later in the year.

Enrolled nurse Allen little, who works as a recreation officer in
aged care in Levin, undertook the initial clown doctor training in
Christchurch and is enthusiastic about the potential for good that he
sees in clown doctors. He has played a zany down named "Aljo"
for some time and hopes to put his new skills to good use.

"Every nurse has a responsibility to promote wellness and
humour among the sick, who are often intimidated by procedures and
technologies of modern care. Clown doctors are not your typical doctors
but they will be prescribing the ultimate medicine, laughter."

Little encourages nurses to promote this initiative by seriously
thinking about opportunities for local clowns in particular areas of
responsibility. "If you want to involve clown doctors in your
hospital, or have a special workshop on the impact of humour on patients
and staff, or would simply like more information about the Clown Doctors
New Zealand Charitable Trust, visit www.downdoctors.org.nz, email
smile@clowndoctors.org.nz or phone 03 669 3322," he said.